By the time this week’s issue of the Gasconade County Republican hits areas stores and businesses, action will be underway inside Columbia’s Mizzou Arena at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Boys and Girls State Wrestling Championships.

A total of 16 wrestlers between Owensville, Fatima and St. James will be looking to leave Columbia with a medal in the shape of the state of Missouri earned by a top-six finish in their respective weight classes.

Fresh off a district title in southeast Missouri at the MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 Tournament at Kelly High School, Fatima’s Comets will send eight grapplers to Columbia in senior Caden Rosentreter at 106 pounds, freshman William Berhorst (113), senior Tucker Tune (120), senior Nolan Laux (132), sophomore Tucker Schroeder at (138), senior Zach Kloeppel (144), sophomore Logan Laux (150) and senior Jesse Schroeder (175).

Two North Callaway High School wrestlers with Owensville ties will also be competing starting today (Wednesday) in Columbia.

Now currently the athletic director at North Callaway High School, former Owensville High School head football coach and AD Dale Long will get to see his sons Kellen and Hunter Long compete among three sets of siblings with area ties.

Now a senior, Kellen will compete at 157 pounds while his younger brother Hunter will wrestle as a sophomore at 215 pounds.

Once the Class 1 Boys finish their first set of matches, it will be time for the Class 1 Girls to take their turn on the mats beginning at 1 p.m., today (Wednesday).

Owensville Dutchgirl freshman Brianna Bodine will be among the first wrestlers to kick off her state tournament at 100 pounds against Benton’s (St. Joseph) junior Nealeigh Ziolkowski.

Bodine could also see Pacific junior Madelyn Rush throughout the tournament depending on the results of other matches.

Additional Four Rivers Conference (FRC) girls wrestlers qualifying for state include St. Clair senior Lindsay Rampani (120), Union junior Kaitlyn Kuelker (130), St. Clair senior Molly Brown (145), Sullivan junior Chloe Carson (155), St. Clair junior Alivia Webb (155), Pacific junior Kaylee Templeton (170), Union freshman Kamille Hill (235) and Sullivan junior Abigail Erfurth (235).

Owensville High School (OHS) junior Rylee Dare will also suit up at 145 pounds and face Brown in first-round action.

Fatima senior Heidi Struemph will also represent Osage County competing in Class 1 Girls Tournament action at 130 pounds.

Capping day one will be the Class 2 boys and a total of 13 FRC wrestlers competing between Owensville, Sullivan, St. Clair and St. James.

FRC wrestlers outside of Owensville’s state-qualifying trio that will be competing at Mizzou Arena include Sullivan sophomore Ian Henderson (120), Sullivan senior Camden Henderson (126), St. Clair junior Jonathan Declue (126), St. Clair senior Cole Horton (144), St. Clair senior Ashton Feuerborn (150), St. Clair junior Jeremiah Wright (157), St. Clair senior Logan Bartz (175), St. Clair senior Adam Folks (190), St. James senior Joshua Carpenter (215) and St. James sophomore Lucas Jackson (285).

Qualifying for the third time for state, Dutchmen senior Steven Buddemeyer will face off in first-round action tonight (Wednesday) against Southern Boone senior Kaid Shaw.

Steven’s younger brother in freshman Bo Buddemeyer drew Horton from St. Clair in first-round action at 144 pounds.

Upsetting the number-one ranked Missouri Class 2 Boys wrestler at 190 pounds in St. James’ Zane Achterberg during the blood round over the weekend at districts in Buffalo to punch his ticket to state, Dutchmen junior Cael Walker will face off against Mexico senior Grant Walker in first-round action.

Friday morning will also see a handful of FRC wrestlers along with a Hannibal Pirate sophomore that has ties to Owensville in Class 3 Boys action.

Graduating from OHS back in 1999, Beau Viehmann’s son Kael became a two-time state qualifier at 106 pounds over the weekend during the MSHSAA Class 3, District 2 Boys Wrestling Tournament at Warrenton High School.

FRC and area state wrestling qualifiers joining Viehmann in Class 3 will include Pacific freshman Gunner Knott (106), Pacific sophomore Gus Knott (113), Pacific senior Mason Link (120), Pacific senior Brayden Milberg (126) Washington sophomore Trenten Dooley (126), Pacific senior Brock Webb (132), Washington junior Gable Ohm (132), Washington junior Ethan James (138), Washington senior Noah Dooley (157), Pacific senior Lucas Tennyson (165), Washington senior Lane Gerling (175), Pacific sophomore Leo Fiedler (190), Washington senior Camden Dewert (190) and Pacific freshman Tyson Marrs (285).